19
Nov 02
THE CASE FOR WOMEN COMPETING IN MEN'S LEAGUES
By Andrew Shelley, Director, Women's International
Squash Players' Association (WISPA)
It was reported recently that world number five Vanessa Atkinson, from the
Netherlands, has been banned from playing in the Dutch men's squash
leagues this season. This change of policy comes after she had competed
in them previously and had already represented her club twice in early
fixtures this season.
Clearly, it is very beneficial for top women players to have competitive
opportunities in men's leagues as they often have no local high standard
women to practice with or compete against. Leagues will then inevitably
form a part of their training programmes.
WISPA recognises that it may be inappropriate for women to compete in
men's title events e.g. regional / national championships, but would
encourage countries, promoters and clubs to open all leagues and many
knock-out events to women competitors. We would
regard this as an encouragement for women's sport and do not believe that
such a position could encourage men to enter women's events. It is simply
a case of allowing women to "play up".
BACKGROUND
WISPA has researched the international situation and has found that many
countries already adopt this policy.
A member from New Zealand tells us that she is able to compete in men's
leagues and events with the exception of the national championships. She
is on the men's grading list in NZ and can, if she wishes, even enter the
men's club championship at the centre where she is based.
This is certainly true for women players in England, many of whom compete
in county leagues and local men's tournaments. Members tell us the same
goes for Ireland and Australia - and we believe it to be the case for many
other countries too.
The only unearthed exception is Egypt where women were barred from the
men's leagues a few years ago. Perhaps they were winning too many
matches!
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What
do YOU think ???
Points of View
How the news broke on Grapevine, 29-Oct
29 Oct 02
DUTCH STAR VANESSA BANNED
FROM PLAYING IN MEN'S LEAGUE
Vanessa Atkinson, the world No.6, has
been banned by the Dutch Squash Association (SBN) from playing
in the National League Men's First Division, which is one
below the star-studded Premier League.
Last season, Atkinson played nearly all of the matches for the
men's second team of her club, The Hague-based HSRC. However,
the SBN has now decided against this for the ongoing season
2002/2003, their main argument being that it does not want to
create 'mixed teams'.
SBN's decision came as a total shock to Atkinson as well as to
HSRC, not only since she had been on the club's players' list
for this season as early as May, but also because she has
already played two matches in the men's second team during the
current season, without any formal response from SBN.
Atkinson commented: "I need the strong matches against male
players to stay in match form. This is typical of the lack of
support for Dutch squash professionals by SBN."
The HSRC team manager, Freek van den Engel, has confirmed that
he will appeal against the Association's decision. However, he
is currently still awaiting the formal confirmation of SBN's
point of view.
In England, women's world champion Sarah Fitz-Gerald has
recently been nominated to play in the men's National Super
League for Exeter, and many senior English players gain
valuable match competition by playing in men's county league
teams. The move in Holland certainly seems a backward step.
Teams should be selected on merit, and if a woman is good
enough, then she plays. Simple. We look forward to hearing the
response from the Dutch authorities ...
and the follow-up, 01-Nov:
ATKINSON
BATTLE OF THE SEXES
IS LIKELY TO END UP IN COURT
Fons Pasteur writes from the Hague
Squash Club with his reaction to the news that Vanessa
Atkinson has been banned from playing in the Dutch men's
leagues - despite being allowed to play last season and having
already completed two fixtures this season.
Fons, who was Press Officer during the Women's World Open in
Holland in 1988, said: "The news that Vanessa is not allowed
to play in the men's competition was even headline news here
in the Dutch newspapers.
"The thing is that the Dutch Squash Association allowed
Vanessa to play last year in the men's competition. The
request of her and her club HSRC was fine with the officials.
Nobody had any problem with that. So HSRC put her on the list
for the men for this year.
"After two competition rounds all of a sudden she was not
allowed to play any more. As far as I know, one of the members
of the board complained about it. His name is Rudger Jan
Kamperman, and the funny thing is that he runs a squash centre
in Zwolle and he has the ability to pay for the top players.
So he should know that it is good for Vanessa to play in the
men's competition.
"Vanessa has a letter from the old board of the Association
that she was allowed to play but the new board, that started
on September 1st, was against that. In other countries top
women are allowed to play in the men's competition. One of the
members of the new board told me that they wanted to avoid a
situation whereby they would receive requests from men who
wanted to play in the women's competition.
"This is complete mad, of course. HSRC is waiting for a letter
which says that Vanessa is not allowed to play in the men's
competition. When they have received that letter they will go
to court. We are happy to let the judge decide. Situations
like this in the past have always been positive for the women
involved."
What do YOU think ???
Points of View |